September 16, 2002 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Two Texas recycling programs were among six winners of the American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA) 2002 Best Paper Recycling Awards contest, it was announced recently. The City of Austin Solid Waste Services won among the cities over 100,000 category and the Central Texas Recycling Association won in the nonprofit category. These winners will receive their awards at the annual National Recycling Coalition conference, to be held September 9 and 10 in Austin. "This sixth annual competition has identified an extraordinary collection of paper recycling programs, and this year is no exception," said W. Henson Moore, chairman and CEO of AF&PA. "Through the efforts of these winners, and so many other programs across the country, the paper industry recovered 48 percent of all paper in 2001." The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Nashville, was recognized in the category for cities under 100,000. Herndon High School, Herndon, VA, took top honors among schools and institutions. "Community programs are vital to sustainable, high-quality paper recycling," said Harris DeLoach, president and CEO, Sonoco Products Co., and chair of AF&PA's Committee on Recovered Fiber. Navy Whidbey Recycle, Oak Harbor, WA, took the prize among federal government entries. Virco Manufacturing Corporation, Conway Division, Torrance, CA, won for the best business program. "Businesses and government agencies are essential to stepping up the volume of paper recycled," said DeLoach, "and these winning programs really show the way." Winners in each of the categories, except federal facilities, will receive a $2,000 cash award. All winners receive a framed certificate presented at a ceremony attended by paper industry representatives and local officials. For more information about paper recycling and past Best Paper Recycling Award winners, visit our web site at www.afandpa.org. The AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, pulp, paper, paperboard and wood products industry. The forest products industry accounts for more than eight percent of total U.S. manufacturing output, employs 1.5 million people and ranks among the top ten manufacturing employers in 42 states.